Landlord Information

To be eligible, a household must be obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling in the State of Vermont and meet the criteria below:

• One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
• The household has a household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income. (See VT Income Limits 2021)

Eligible housing types include:

• Households occupying a federally subsidized residential or mixed-used property, as long as VERAP funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance.
• Households receiving a monthly federal subsidy where the tenant portion of the rent has been adjusted according to changes in income. The household may receive VERAP assistance for the tenant-owed (non-subsidized) portion of rent.
• People exiting homelessness, provided only that the household has a lease or can demonstrate they have a rental obligation.
• People leasing up in new location, provided only that the household has a lease or can demonstrate they have a rental obligation.
• Households with an obligation to pay mobile home lot rent and/or mobile home rent.
• People renting in recovery residence/sober homes as well as renting temporary housing if they relapse and cannot stay in residence, provided only that the household has a lease or can demonstrate an obligation to pay rent.
• Tenants residing in motels for more than 30 days.
• Long-term care facilities (rent portion only).

Renters or “Applicant(s)” must first apply and be determined income eligible and program eligible. Once the application is complete and eligibility is determined, the Applicant and Owner will be notified.

Yes, people living in a roommate arrangement can apply for Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance. If all roommates are listed on the same lease, roommates should apply together as a household and can identify 1 member as the head of household to submit and maintain their application. If each roommate has a separate lease, for their share of the rent only, each roommate can apply individually.

The first step is to create an Owner Record account. Landlords who have not yet created an Owner Record may do so at any time. To create an Owner Record, please visit Vermont State Housing Authority | Emergency Rental Assistance Program (vsha.org)  If you are having difficulties, please contact the Call Center at 833-488-3727 (883-4VT-ERAP). You will need to provide: You will need to provide:

1. The last 4 digits of your tax ID#
2. Your name as it appears on your W-9
3. Your address
4. Your email address

• Current lease signed by the applicant and landlord or sublessor that identifies the unit where the applicant resides and establishes the rental payment amount.
• If a lease is not available, other documentation demonstrating obligation to pay rent must be provided:
  • Evidence of amount of rental payment may include bank statements, check stubs, or other documentation that reasonably establishes a pattern of paying rent.
  • Attestation by the landlord who can be identified as the verified owner or management agent of the unit.
  • If an applicant can provide satisfactory evidence of residence but is unable to present adequate documentation of amount of rent, applicant can provide written attestation to support the payment of assistance up to a monthly maximum of 100% of the county FMR.
    
    • Attestation will be provided in the online application attesting that the information is true and accurate with an eSignature at the end of the application process.
    • must include that household has not received and does not anticipate public or private subsidy and is not a current recipient of Reach-up, Reach First, Reach Ahead, Reach Post-Secondary Education Program, and Child-Only households with at least one parent in receipt of SSI.

Payments to Tenants will only be made if the landlord chooses not to participate in the program demonstrated by:

• If / when a landlord does not submit a landlord application, either online or in paper format AND
• Grantee’s vendor has made 3 attempts by phone, text, or email over 5 business days and the landlord has not responded OR VERAP receives confirmation in writing from landlord that the landlord does not want to participate

After an application has been approved and the landlord has been setup for direct deposit, landlords can expect to receive payment within 1-2 weeks. Payments occur weekly on Wednesdays. The timing of when payment is made will depend on when an application is approved within the pay cycle.

The following data elements will be collected with each landlord application.

• Full Name
• Company Name (if applicable)
• Address, City, State, Zip
• Tax id number
• Completed W-9
• Completed Direct Deposit Authorization
• Email
• Phone
• Attestation (with eSignature at end of application) that:
  • The rental unit complies with Vermont’s Life Safety Code requirements
  • Landlord will not increase the rent for the number of months receiving benefits. (SEE BELOW FOR EXCEPTIONS)
  • Landlord will make reasonable effort to engage in weatherization activities and programs.
  • Landlord agrees to notify VERAP and return grant funds if tenant moves from the unit before the end of the benefit period.
• Mobile Home Parks – For mobile home park lot rents, the program restriction does NOT apply.
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The program does not allow landlords to raise the contract rent while they are receiving rent money under this program, but there are a few exceptions:

• The intent of the program restriction was to not have excessive rent increases due to the program payment of rent.
• For all properties, if a landlord issued the tenant a notice of a rent increase prior to April 5, 2021 (program start date), the increase can be implemented as noticed.
• If the landlord encounters a large unexpected operating expense, the landlord may be able to apply and receive approval for a rent increase through the program. *
• In many cases the increase in contract rent is paid by an increase in federal subsidy, not the household. Some properties are required to follow federal regulations regarding changes to a tenant’s rent; this program does not supersede that federal requirement.

For USDA Rural Development Properties, HUD Section 8 (TRACS) Properties, and HUD Section 8 Project Based Housing Choice Voucher Properties, changes in tenant rent are based on federal requirements and are not impacted by this program.

• HUD – Section 8 – Tenant Based Housing Choice Vouchers – if a landlord issued the tenant a notice of a rent increase prior to April 5, 2021 (program start date), the increase can be implemented as noticed. Landlord will need to supply copy of rent increase notice.
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties – For LIHTC properties where there is no overlaying federal assistance (i.e. USDA or HUD), the program restriction does apply.

*Process for this unexpected expense.  If a landlord encounters an unexpected non-capital operating expense increase such as a property tax increase, a utility increase, or insurance increase, the landlord may receive approval from VERAP to increase the rent while receiving the grant.  Upon approval from the program, the Landlord would be required to send the Tenant a standard rent increase notice along with the program approval for the increase.

The Landlord, as a part of the request for rent increase approval, would need to submit proof of need of the increase.  For a property tax increase this would include submitting both the prior year and current (new) year tax bills.  The same type of documentation would be required for requests related to increased utility costs, insurance or any other type of unexpected non-capital operating expense.  The Landlord will need to provide an attestation to VERAP that without the rent increase approval, the Landlord will not be able to meet its operating expenses.

All rent increases must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation.

Landlords WILL be required to provide proof of ownership of the property in which their tenant lives, this documentation can be a copy of the deed, a current tax bill or a current hazard insurance bill. This is being requested to verify ownership and maintain program integrity.  

Landlords who need to raise the rent paid by their tenants due to an increase in operating expenses can request this in the Owner Portal on the Unit Certification screen. Supporting documentation (e.g. copies of last and current tax bills etc.) must be provided.

For USDA Rural Development Properties, HUD Section 8 (TRACS) Properties, and HUD Section 8 Project Based Housing Choice Voucher Properties, changes in tenant rent are based on federal requirements and are not impacted by this program.

• HUD – Section 8 – Tenant Based Housing Choice Vouchers – if a landlord issued the tenant a notice of a rent increase prior to April 5, 2021 (program start date), the increase can be implemented as noticed. Landlord will need to supply copy of rent increase notice.
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties – For LIHTC properties where there is no overlaying federal assistance (i.e. USDA or HUD), the program restriction does apply.
• Mobile Home Parks – A park owner may not increase lot rent without first providing at least 60 days’ written notice to each affected leaseholder and the Commissioner.